Second Baruch

And the Lord said to me:

‘This city is handed over for a time,

and the people are chastised for a time,

and the world will not be forgotten.

Or do you think that this is the city

of which I said: “Upon the palms of my hands I have engraved you”?

It is not this building that is now built in your midst,

that which is revealed with me,

that

which

was prepared beforehand,

from the time when I took counsel to make Paradise,

and I showed it to Adam before he sinned.

And when

he transgressed

the commandment, it was taken away from him,

as was also Paradise.

And after these things,

I showed it to my servant Abraham by night,

between the portions of the sacrifices.

And again also to Moses

I showed it

on Mount Sinai, when I showed him the likeness of the tabernacle and all its vessels.

And now, behold, it is preserved with me, as is also Paradise.

Go therefore and do as I command you.’